What Makes A Good Documentary: 7 Key Elements Of An Award-Winning Film

Introduction

• Filmmakers often question what makes a documentary good, beyond popular topics and formats.
• An exceptional documentary typically meets specific criteria that resonate with audiences.

1. "Topic" vs "Story"

• A good documentary goes beyond a topic and tells a story.
  • Topic: Connects the film to the world and its history.
  • Story: Connects the documentary to the heart of its audience.
• Examples:
  • Flee (2021)
    • Topic: Migration
    • Story: Amin's journey from Afghanistan to Denmark and his personal struggles.
  • Blackfish (2013)
    • Topic: Animal rights, whaling
    • Story: Tilikum, a killer whale's story of captivity and incidents.

2. Access

• Essential for gaining insights and depth in storytelling.
• Involves who, what, and where:
  • Who is central to the story?
  • What unique perspective do they offer?
  • Where can filming take place?
• Unrepeatable access makes a documentary special.

3. Unique Characters and Change

• Central characters should experience or react to changes.
• Depth comes from understanding characters as real people.
• Key storytelling elements:
  • Character-driven stories
  • Conflict unique to characters
  • Exploration of extremes (joy vs. sadness, etc.)

4. Engage Audience Throughout

• Filmmakers should keep the audience engaged beyond the initial 20 minutes.
• Strategies include leaving some questions unanswered to maintain intrigue.

5. Consistent Mode of Storytelling

• Stick to one of six storytelling modes:
  1. Poetic
  2. Expository
  3. Observational
  4. Participatory
  5. Reflexive
  6. Performative
• Consistency sets tone and pace, ensuring clarity for the audience.

6. Captivating Cinematography

• Cinematography should be captivating and artistically valuable.
• A good documentary aligns with qualities of a good movie.

7. Bigger Message

• Documentaries should convey a message beyond just the story.
• Filmmakers should consider:
  • What will the audience take away?
  • Is there a call to action?
  • Does it inspire emotions like adventure or love?

Additional Resources

• Links to courses and resources for documentary funding, production, distribution, and more are provided for further learning.